Variety of geranium named Diplomat

ABSTRACT

A new geranium cultivar is distinguished by its compact, upright, well branched plant of excellent conformation. The new cultivar has attractive foliage with moderate sized leaves with seasonal, attractive dark zones. The numerous, long lasting, nonshattering flowers, well placed relative to the foliage, are a brilliant dark red in color.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium hortorum which is a zonal geranium known by the varietalname Diplomat. The new variety (Oglevee No. 882, Denholm No. 41996-3)was discovered in a selective breeding program by Mr. Blair L. Winnerand is a selection from the selfing of a selection from the crossing of"Glacier Crimson" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,057, formerly "Bruni") and theunpatented variety "Phyliss".

The new cultivar was discovered in August of 1982 at Denholm Seeds inLompoc, Calif., was first asexually reproduced by cuttings by DenholmSeeds at Lompoc, Calif., and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings at Oglevee Associates, Inc. in Connellsville, Pa. over a 36month period. It has also been trial and field tested at Connellsville,Pa. during the summers of 1983, 1984 and 1985. It has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

The new cultivar is most similar to "Glacier Crimson" but has a morevigorous growing habit, greater heat tolerance, more floriferous and isnot as dwarfed as "Glacier Crimson".

The new cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville, Pa.using full natural light, 60° F. night temperature, 68° F. daytemperature and 71° F. vent temperature and grown in a soilless media ofconstant fertilizer of 275-300 parts per million nitrogen and potassium,has a response time from a rooted cutting to a flowering plant in a 10cm pot of six weeks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing illustrates the new cultivar, the color beingas true as possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed descriptions set forth the characteristics of thecultivar. The data which define these characteristics were collectedfrom asexual reproductions carried out by Oglevee Associates, Inc. inConnellsville, Pa. The plant histories were taken on plants blossomedunder natural light in a greenhouse and color readings were takenindoors under 200 foot candles of cool, white fluorescent light. Colorreferences are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium hortorum.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

Form: Bush; compact; semi-dwarf; free basal branching; blooms close tofoliage.

Height: 16-24 cm from media surface.

Growth: Free branching from base; short internodes.

Strength: Stands upright without artificial support.

Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment; zoning.

Leaves:

Size.--4.5-9.0 cm across.

Shape.--Reniform; cordate base.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Pubescent.

Color.--Top: Margin and center green group 138B; zone-green group 137C.Bottom: Yellow-green group 146C. Zonation: Seasonal dark green/bronze.

Ribs and veins.--Palmate.

Petioles: Green group 143C; 2.5-5.5 cm in length.

Stem:

Color.--Green group 143C.

Internodes.--1-2 cm in length.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Continuous; upright; semi-double; hemispherical inshape.

Size: 8-10 cm across.

Borne: Umbel; florets on pedicel; pedicels on peduncle.

Florets:

Form.--Round; slightly flat to cupped; regular.

Color.--Top: Red group 44B. Bottom: Red group 41C.

Petals.--10-14 in number separate -- not united; margin entire, palmatevenation; obovate.

Size.--1.5-2.5 cm across.

Texture and appearance.--Smooth; reflective flecks.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--3-5.

Color.--Front: Red group 44B. Back: Red group 41C.

Pedicel:

Length.--2-3 cm.

Elliptic to linear.--Some lobed.

Peduncle: Arise from node opposite leaf node; 6-10 cm in length;yellow-green group 144B.

Persistence: Nonshattering, persistent, florets.

Disease resistance: Good resistance to Botrytis and Alternaria leafspots.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens, anthers: Light pink when young, orange to orange brown whenmature.

Filaments: White at base; reddish coloring toward tip; irregular inshape; some petaloid; flat at base and twisted at tip; 6-8 mm in length.

Pollen: Golden yellow-color initially.

Pistils:

Number.--1 with 5 parted stigma.

Length.--8 mm.

Stigma: 5 parted; color same as petal.

Style: 1; 2 mm in length; same color as petals.

Ovaries: 5 mm in length; yellow-green; very pubescent (0.1-0.5 mm).

Fruit: None observed.

The new cultivar is a compact, upright, well branched plant of excellentconformation. It has attractive foliage with moderate sized leaves withseasonal, attractive dark zones. The numerous, long lasting,nonshattering flowers are well placed relative to the foliage and are aunique, brilliant dark red in color.

The new cultivar has been fingerprinted by Dr. Richard Craig and hisassociates at Penn State University in State College, Pa. Thefingerprinting was conducted on a Waters High Performance LiquidChromatograph equipped with an automatic injection system, dual pumps,solvent programmer, data module, variable wavelength detector, and a C₁₈column. The anthocyanin and flavonol chemical markers utilizing flowerpetals as an adjunct for cultivar identification were determined.

The anthocyanin and flavonol concentrations of petals just afteranthesis of the cultivar Diplomat florets sampled in April of 1985 arecompared with the cultivar "Bruni" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,057) andpresented below in Tables 1 and 2. Results are based on the average ofmultiple tests. It should be noted that changes in environment caninfluence the biosynthesis.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Anthocyanin Concentration                                                     ug anthocyanin 3,5 diglucoside/g fresh wt.                                             Delph-  Cyan-   Pelar-                                                                              Peo-                                           Cultivar inidin  idin    gonidin                                                                             nidin                                                                              Malvidin                                                                             Total                              ______________________________________                                        DIPLOMAT 27      150     2874  1376 618    5045                               XCR - Bruni                                                                            --       78     5251  2418 --     7747                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Flavonol Concentration                                                        ug/g fresh wt.                                                                ______________________________________                                                 Qu3-.sup.z Qu3-   Qu3-   Qu3- Km3-                                   Cultivar rhagal     rut    gal    glu  rhagal                                 ______________________________________                                        DIPLOMAT t          t      t      21    59                                    XCR - Bruni                                                                            11         34     --     t    307                                    ______________________________________                                                 Km3-    Km3-    Km3-  Km3-  Km3-                                     Cultivar gal     rut     xyl   arab  rha   Total                              ______________________________________                                        DIPLOMAT 119      180    t     32    ND.sup.x                                                                             431                               XCR - Bruni                                                                             47     1257    13    49    185   1908                               ______________________________________                                         .sup.z Abbreviations: Km = Kaempferol; Qu = Quercetin; arab = arabinoside     gal = galactoside; glu = glucoside; rha = rhamnoside; rhagal =                rhamnosylgalactoside; rut = rutinoside; xyl = xyloside. t = trace <10 ug.     ND.sup.x = not determined                                                

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of geranium plant substantiallyas herein shown and described and parts therefor.